Large sps colony dying from the bottom?

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by rsisvixen

Could be that was just it for the lifespan of the coral.

3 years is a very short time in the lifespan of a coral.

It may also be lack of flow, combined with limited lighting. I know that with a lot of poccilipora sps colonies, the heads on the outside look healthy, but the inside branches are bare or sparse for live polyps.

[Animal-Chin]

I'd believe light over flow but really don't believe either. I have a LOT of both.

Its the colony right under the square back anthias. Its up high so lots of light and in a really good flow area...

[rsisvixen]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

3 years is a very short time in the lifespan of a coral.

I was reading documentation about cumulative lifespans, they were discussing zoanthids specifically but I don't see why it shouldn't apply to all corals.
The premise is that a coral has a lifespan = to x years and that is built into the genetic code, so in theory you have the original colony, say its got a lifespan of 200 years, its 150 years old when Bob the diver takes a frag/whole colony. This then lives in a tank for x years, fragged, frags live x years, etc, but once those extra 50 years are up, no matter the age of the frags the timer is up and the coral and all its frags die.
The theory being that frags aren't offspring but still part of the original animal and thus subject to the original genetic code.
Was an interesting read.

[Aquattro]

I'd look for pests or something stinging it. Sure, large colonies can start to fade at the bottom, but not in a day or two from a healthy colony. It's location is a premium spot in the tank, lots of flow and light. I do 50% water changes all the time, so I doubt that either, and it wouldn't limit the effect to one colony. something else going on here.

[Animal-Chin]

It is located up and to the right of a huge hammer coral colony, do they every put out sweepers? I've never seen it do it but maybe they do? My galaxy coral sends out sweepers every night, could a hammer? I mean the hammer is 5 years old, I think I would have noticed by now but...

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Animal-Chin

It is located up and to the right of a huge hammer coral colony, do they every put out sweepers? I've never seen it do it but maybe they do? My galaxy coral sends out sweepers every night, could a hammer? I mean the hammer is 5 years old, I think I would have noticed by now but...

Yes, hammers can send sweepers quite a distance. That could do it. Also cut off a branch and dip it to see if anything comes off.

[Animal-Chin]

Cut the entire underneath off and gave the rest a good dip. Not one critter fell off so its not pests. Hopefully the stuff I cut off lives, I guess we'll see tonight. Alk is steady at 10.2 so it's not the issue. I moved whats left away from the hammer coral to see if it was being stung.

ah well, I have nice frags of it in my frag tank, I can always start over. Plus open realistate is never really a bad thing when you have a visa card...lol